Get to know the Kentucky football roster: No. 81 Willie Rodriguez

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The 2026 Kentucky Wildcats football season is now just 81 days away, and we’re counting down the days until game one of the Will Stein era. As we count them down, we’re also taking a look at the players who make up the team, and wearing No. 81 is tight end Willie Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is a 6’4″, 249 lb tight end out of the Bluegrass State. He was a three-star recruit in the 2024 class who 247Sports ranked as the No. 841 player in his class. However, he began drawing rave reviews right away.

As a freshman, he played in every game, and though he didn’t put up big numbers, he showed flashes of what he could be. Last year, he recorded 23 catches for 310 yards and a touchdown. His athleticism and ability as a receiver were obvious to fans.

When Stein came in, Rodriguez opted to stick with the Wildcats, and it could pay big dividends. Stein’s offenses have been very good to tight ends, and should give him lots of opportunities to make plays. He’s a breakout candidate who could be in for a huge season, and will certainly be an important part of the offense.

This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky football 2026 player profile: No. 81 Willie Rodriguez

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